Souli

Souli is a historic village, 73 km Southeast of Igoumenitsa, in Thesprotia prefecture of Epirus.

History

In the 16th and 17th Century, inhabitants of Thesprotia established four main villages (Souli, Kiafa, Avariko and Samoniva) in an attempt to live in a remote mountainous area relatively free from Ottoman yoke. By 1750, this arrangement evolved into a semi-autonomous confederation of nearly 80 villages with a population of 25,000 inhabitants. The Ottoman Turks did not react to this situation preferring to use the Souliotes as a buffer zone between themselves and the Venetians who occupied the Ionian Islands. However, the Venetians were replaced by the French who sought close relations with Souli. This action was viewed as an act of aggression by the Turks who then encouraged the local Albanian pashas to put an end to it.

Twice Ali Pasha tried to invade Souli (1791 and 1792) and twice he failed. However, his third attempt (1802 - 1803) proved successful as the Souliotes ran out of ammunition and food and were forced to accept Ali Pasha's terms. On December 15, 1803, they abandoned their villages for other parts of Epirus.

Ali Pasha, however, broke his truce and attacked some fleeing Souliotes at Zaloggo. The battle of Zaloggo is remembered today for the sacrifice of the Souliote women who preferred to jump off its cliffs, to their death, rather than fall into the hands of Ali Pasha's soldiers. Survivors were forced to flee once more mostly to Central Greece.

In the ensuing wars between Ali Pasha and the Turkish Sultan, the Souliotes took the side of the former after being promised that they would be allowed to return to their villages. Unfortunately, the Sultan was victorious and on July 28, 1821, they were forced to leave for good.